Abstract

N,N′-Bis(4-trifluoromethylthiobenzyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid diimide (NTCDI-BSCF3) is synthesized. It shows a similar molecular packing structure and intermolecular transfer integral to N,N′-bis(4-trifluoromethoxybenzyl)naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid diimide (NTCDI-BOCF3), but demonstrates different behaviors in terms of electron mobility and air stability. NTCDI-BSCF3 based organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) exhibit much better environmental stability when compared with NTCDI-BOCF3 due to their high hydrophobicity which prevents the diffusion of moisture and oxygen into the devices. In addition, the electron mobility of NTCDI-BSCF3 shows good thermal stability in relation to the deposition temperature, and achieves a value as high as 0.17 cm2 (V s)−1 in air, although it is lower than that of NTCDI-BOCF3. The lower mobility may be attributed to the unexpected crystal growth mode after the deposition of the second monolayer and an insufficient quality of the thin films of NTCDI-BSCF3, especially their inadequate crystallinity. This contrasts with the Stranski–Krastanov (SK) (layer-plus-island) growth mode with the expected crystal growth direction and good crystallinity of NTCDI-BOCF3. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that the introduction of the trifluoromethanesulfenyl (SCF3) group at the N-group of naphthalene tetracarboxylic diimide (NTCDI) is an effective approach for enhancing the environmental stability of NTCDI based n-channel OTFTs.

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